The Debate You Really Want to Hear More About

I imagine by now THE debate (with Ken Ham and Bill Nye, if any explanation is needed) is getting to be old news and anyway, this post will barely be a drop in the bucket of all that has been said about it already. My thoughts on the topic have been weighing on my mind, however, so I need to write them out to make room for all the other things to which I need to attend. I'm far too busy for philosophical musings!

At any rate, our family watched the debate and found it interesting. Much has been said about it, as I've mentioned, and I'm far from qualified to offer much opinion on the science discussed or the logic (or, at times, lack thereof) with which it was discussed, so I don't intend to do that here. But after watching it, and then reading the articles and Facebook discussions afterward, I will say that I felt a bit overwhelmed and discouraged by pondering the heavy artillery with which my children's very belief systems will be assailed when they reach adulthood and leave home. It's not that they will encounter ideas with which they are not familiar - they are fairly well educated about various theories and beliefs, and they know that they are in the minority when it comes to...well, a lot of things - but the vitriol against our worldview (and not just on the creation/evolution aspect) is increasing, and not only from unbelievers, but from fellow believers! That, I think, is the most distressing thing about all of this. I expect that my children will have thoughts and opinions different than mine - they already do, of course - and I expect that when they are adults, we will disagree on some issues. Perhaps we will disagree on big issues. I don't teach them and train them to believe a list of things, contrary perhaps to what detractors of our faith and life choices think - I do raise them within the worldview I believe, but I try to teach them to think critically, to evaluate all the evidence, and to weigh and measure all things with to the senses and intelligence God has given them and according to the leading of the Spirit within them. I mean, ideally, anyway. So it might be hard to find they've rejected a particular notion of mine, or that they embrace an idea I find ridiculous, but I don't think I'll be disappointed in them.

I will, however, be disappointed in them if I hear of them mocking or belittling anyone who holds a different viewpoint, just as I am always disappointed in Christians who behave in such a way toward their brothers and sisters in Christ. Of course heresy should be exposed, along with genuinely sinful behavior. And obviously I understand that public figures and leaders open themselves up to more criticism than would be appropriate toward the average person. But it saddens me to see Christians calling Ken Ham an idiot or a fool, or even just mocking young-Earth Creationists in general for being stupid. I expect that from non-Christians, but it's dreadful to hear it from fellow believers. It's even worse, I think, when such a thing is accompanied by some sort of apology to unbelievers for the ignorance of backwards Christians, along with an attempt to explain how "real" Christianity is much more relevant, nice, smart, plausible, in step with real life, etc, etc, etc. It may be that there are some foolish and ignorant Christians who don't do the faith any favors by speaking up. But I think about the army of faithful servants who pray, work, serve, and love in their following of Jesus and advancing of the kingdom - people who also hold to those clunky, old-fashioned, out-of step beliefs - and it's shameful that their "hipper" (is that a word?) counterparts should mock them so that Christianity can appear less stupid to the "outside world," as Bill Nye kept referring to it.

It's not that Christians can't disagree and debate the facts, of course. Hopefully, we can defend our beliefs and opinions with facts and evidence. It's almost certain that one side (of any given issue, really) IS, in fact, right, and one side is wrong (although I imagine we'll all discover in the end that God is much, much bigger than anything we could have ever possibly comprehended, and that our idea of "right" is embarrassingly puny. And it's not that we can't discuss and debate those facts with the "those on the outside." (Bill Nye made a point to use that term repeatedly. I kept imagining a giant compound for all Creationists. Well, not that giant - he made it clear that Creationists are in a tiny, tiny minority - which makes me wonder, incidentally, what in the world he's worried about.)
But I think we should remember a couple of things: 1.) that no matter how intelligent, well-read, and logical we become, for Christians, "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." and 2.) we can align ourselves with facts, and offer evidence and proof to back up our beliefs, but there just will be times when Christianity, and Christians by extension, will appear foolish and incomprehensibly stupid. If we try to avoid that at all costs, we will back ourselves right out of the faith. I understand there are many opinions among Christians about the details of the creation of the world, and there may be legitimate evidence to back up each one. There are some Christians, though, who go so far as to beg other Christians to stop pitting themselves against what is obviously science, because we are alienating people when we do that. But we don't have to go very far before we do have to make a choice - do we believe in the virgin birth or not? Do we believe in Jesus' resurrection from the dead or not? Just those two events are a bit of a problem with science. So argue all you want about how your side is more intelligent and plausible and in line with "real" science than another side, but all sides have to come to a point at which they must choose whether to embrace something that is definitely stupid and implausible as far as the world is concerned. And if they don't...well, that's quite a big problem.

And that's just the beginning. I certainly don't think that Christians should go out their way to be illogical idiots, but there will be plenty of times when we will be considered foolish. And while we are commanded to give an answer to what we are asked "with gentleness and respect," there's no command to make sure we are relevant, hip, or in line with the current scientific or philosophical thinking of the day. There's also no admonition toward technological advancement, and on that point of the debate I will give my opinion. Bill Nye is apparently very worried that those who embrace Creationism (and all kinds, by the way, so it doesn't matter what kind of creation you believe in - if you believe that God was in any way behind it, you're a moron, and a dangerous one at that) will hinder the advancement of technology, which is, for him, the altar on which everything must be offered. I will venture to say that Ken Ham did a good job in presenting examples of scientists who believe in a six-day Creation, and yet have contributed and still do contribute to the advancement of modern technology. That's great, of course. I think there are plenty of Creationists who are curious about discovery and can and do make important contributions to our culture. I think many times they can do it in logical ways that do appear intelligent to the world. But I also think it's also okay to say that it's not really our primary concern, so I guess Bill Nye is right about that in one sense. Our job is advancing the kingdom, NOT technology.

At which point I'm sure at least someone read, "Creationists ARE against science."